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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
05-02-2019, 07:54 PM
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Hey, Sluggo, it's very nice to go through your photo documentation to refresh my mind. I didn't realize at that time that it was so complicated undertaking. I just don't have the courage right now to do it again.
I still have my MZ-5n and MZ-6 and would bring them together with my dslr when I travel. I think digital technology has advanced to such a stage that I no longer need to use film cameras. I am planning to move on to mirrorless cameras such as Nikon Z-7.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
05-02-2019, 06:50 PM
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I have 3: ME, MZ-5n, and MZ-6. The last 2 have brass mirror motor gear.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
05-01-2019, 06:40 PM
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Yes, same as MZ-6 released in 2001, has black plastic gear as shown in the above photo. These motors are taken out from failed MZ cameras. The plastic gear is not melted, just split at the center hole and can no longer hold on to the motor shaft. I have not seen any melted plastic gear but it is possible. If the gear splits in the middle of a cycle, the motor will continue running at 15K rpm if the camera is not immediately turned off, the friction between motor shaft and the pinion would generate sufficient heat to melt the plastic. Removing the bottom cover of the camera, you can easily see the mirror motor and the gear. If it is stamped: "PENTAX CORPORATION Made in Japan", most likely you'll have brass gear. The other two motors (one for focusing, another for transport film) are equipped with brass gears. I don't know why Pentax engineers would choose plastic gear for the mirror motor. The gear is 3.75mm in diameter; the center core area is very thin and would not be adequate to take the torque for flipping the mirror. I've opened two MZ-60, both have brass gear and stamped "PENTAX CORPORATION Assembled in Philippine". So when you are in the market for a MZ camera, look for the marking shown in the photo below. If it is stamped "ASAHI OPT. CO. LTD.", you will have to remove the bottom cover to see if the mirror motor gear has been replaced or not. If it is not, don't buy it.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
05-01-2019, 03:35 PM
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I am one of the persons who replaced mirror motors in MZ series of cameras. Since the plastic gear is press fit to the motor shaft, the internal stress eventually would split the gear so the motor would keep on rotating but the gear would not turn resulting in permanent mirror lock. If you have replacement motor with brass gear, it is possible to DIY. I've written done detailed procedure some where in the Forum. If you have the 13-tooth gear made, the center hole has to be drilled just a shade smaller than the motor shaft. Put the metal gear in boiling water, dip motor shaft in ice water, then press the gear into the shaft.
The company changed name to Pentax Corporation in 2002. If your camera is stamped "PENTAX CORPORATION Made in Japan", you probably have metal gear on mirror motor shaft. My post-2002 MZ-6 has brass gear. The other MZ-6, stamped "ASAHI OPT. CO. LTD." has black plastic gear.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
12-10-2012, 10:55 AM
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I picked up 5 packages of Walgreen 200 last year. I wonder who made these films (Fujifilm?). I also have a MZ-7 which I replaced the mirror motor. I use MZ-5N more often because I like its pentaprism viewfinder and spot metering.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
11-24-2012, 07:41 PM
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The mountain scenery near Taipei and my ancestors old house in southern Taiwan. The 2nd picture is a bit fuzzy probably due to unsteady hand. Photos taken with X-10.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
11-23-2012, 05:34 PM
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It was not my intention to bash Fuji camera. I feel that X-10 is not for me. For portability, my iPhone is just as good and I am not willing to spend more money for X-100. All in all, in my experience, any of Olympus and Panasonic micro four thirds is a lot more versatile than X-10. I am now selling it in the local market, after two weeks if it is not sold, I will list it in this site.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
11-23-2012, 04:18 PM
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After reading these threads, I was misled to buy a X-10. I only took 8 pictures and was so disappointed by the results. The camera has been in the drawer for 5 months now, I think I should get rid it. The culprit is nothing else but that miniscule sensor.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
02-21-2012, 08:20 AM
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It reminds me the laughing budda.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
02-19-2012, 06:04 PM
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Sensational! The Genie is finally out. Be patient, Rupert, we are not starving.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
02-19-2012, 05:41 PM
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I can't see the difference. The 2nd picture has better contrast in the dark area and sharper to me. I decide to skip K-5 and wait for whatever the replacement or X-Pro1.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
02-18-2012, 06:24 PM
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I remember that some one mentioned here that the white orb will appear only under certain processing settings. The problem maybe also due to improper focusing under low light. I saw photos shot with Canon 7D also have white orbs. I for one hate bokeh. Those of you who love it should consider white orbs: special beautiful bokeh.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
02-18-2012, 06:15 PM
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I have not been able to get these white orbs either. I can see the so-called white orbs have sharp circular edges. In two weeks time, I will be in Beijing and Taipei; I will try to shoot many night scenes to see if I can get those white orbs.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
02-18-2012, 05:31 PM
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I would load a roll of 24 and test it. The film is advanced by counting the number of holes along the edge of the film, each frame is 8 holes in width. Check the teeth on the lower part of the winding spool and the gear on the left side. Also clean the battery door (+) to the edge contact. I only use Duracell and Energizer brands, Those 1-dollar batteries do not work on my camera, they are a bit too long making it difficult to close the battery door and die really fast. I ran through over 200 rolls of films in one of my MZ-6 and have not encountered any problem yet.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
02-16-2012, 08:33 AM
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Beautiful pictures! Nowadays people talked so much about FF DSLR. This ZX-10 is one of the indigenous full frame camera. Even though it is plasticky, it's amazingly light and a lot easier to operate than those metal behemoth.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
02-13-2012, 02:51 PM
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I just don't see this geometrical optics will be any better than what has been accomplished. If some one would apply Richard Feynman's QED in camera design, that would be a step forward.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
02-13-2012, 09:58 AM
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Rupert, do you get snow in DFW area? I am going to Asia in March and will bring my x10 with me.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
02-12-2012, 09:38 AM
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When the bottom cover is removed, you can see the manufacturing date stamped on the metal plate. All the MZ/ZX series from 2002 have metal gear on the mirror motor shaft. Also the company changed the name to Pentax Corporation (from Asahi Opt.Co. Ltd.) in 2002. If your camera is a pre-2002 one, I would guess that whoever replaced the mirror motor didn't assemble the camera correctly. Please refer to the "mirror motor" threads " MZ5n mirror blocked, service manual?" post #62. There is a plastic arm (behind the yellow gear) extends from the gear box to the shutter block to trigger the shutter to fire. When the yellow gear is removed, you'll see two plastic levers, the one on the right is for setting the lens diaphragm, the one on the left which is extending down, is shutter charge lever. The two levers are connected by a very fine coil spring. Also mentioned in that post, the yellow and green gears are synchronized by mating the holes at the rims. The gear box cycle runs like this: when the shutter button is pressed, the mirror flips up, the aperture is set, the shutter fires, the mirror returns to 45 degree angle, the diaphragm opens up, the power is off. If it is any where in the middle of the cycle, the power is always on, which is not controlled by the external power switch. Therefore, I would suggest that you check the synchronization and the two levers behind the yellow gear.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
02-09-2012, 11:34 AM
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I want Fuji x-pro1 when it is well reviewed. Right now I am happy with x-10, K-x, K-7, and the full-frame film cameras.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
02-07-2012, 06:11 PM
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I am going to Asia in March. I will bring some Fuji superia 400 films. Would this film be damaged by the security x-ray?
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
02-06-2012, 03:57 PM
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No, nothing wrong with plastics. Nowadays all eye glasses are made of plastics. It's much cheaper to manufacture. Since it is softer than glass, one has to be very careful to clean it. Also the coatings is easier to wipe off.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
02-06-2012, 09:30 AM
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Fuji lens elements are made of glass not plastics. The viewfinder of my x10 has glass elements and prism. In contrast, all the eyepieces of my Pentax autofocus film cameras (except maybe MZ-S) are made of plastics. The manufacturing cost of glass elements is much higher. I plan to sell most of my Pentax gear when X-Pro1 is available and well reviewed. I want a camera with short registration distance.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
02-04-2012, 05:45 PM
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>>if someone could point out where is the film advance motor (and it's gear) in the camera.>>
When you open the back door, you'll see the film take-up spool on the right-hand side. The motor is inside the spool. All the gears for advance and rewind of film are located at the bottom of the camera. Remove the bottom cover (remember the screw on the left side of battery door is shorter). Follow "the mirror motor" thread to remove the bottom metal plate and front covers. (Use a marking pen to mark the holes on the metal plate before removing the screws, the 2 screws near the lens mount are different.). In case you need to replace some of the film transport gears, I'll send them to you for free. Your problem may be due to the batteries are getting low.
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Forum: Pentax K-01
02-02-2012, 05:37 PM
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I am sure some one will make a cover or shade for the LCD to enable the image visible under bright daylight.
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